DUKE IS ELITE !

[Showenuff]

I like the fact that a lot of our stars had a bad showing tonight, they will play way better vs the Zags. I think we are Final Four bound fellas !

 

[OldasdirtDevil]

Hell Yeah!!! We're showing we can win when we don't hit on all cylinders...and at this time of the year that's imperative.

OFC

 

[ZLonghorn99]

I think the Zags will play us straight up--meaning they won't stall on offense, they might not double Jah, etc. it should be a much more pleasing game to watch. Damn, I hope we win--but at least I'll be pumped all weekend!

 

[The Right Blue]

Thrilled for these kids. Elite Eight is nothing to sniff at. And for all the talk about Quinn not hanging banners, 2 elite eight appearances is amazing. This game didn't start well and it didn't end well, but who cares? A win is a win. On to Gonzaga. Hopefully this team will be fortunate enough to earn a final four.

 

[dbav]

I knew that already, haha.

 

[crazyduke3]

Bleh. Will we play better? Who knows. Zags are better than utah and will give us 40 minutes, we've had 3 tournament games without 40 minutes. To advance any game from here on, we're gonna need the full 40 from all players. My biggest concern is that.


Still..... very nice to win a S16 game!!! Love a long duke season!!

 

[Showenuff]

While we are all so concerned about scoring, we seem to all be overlooking the fact that our defense in this tourney is looking much better. Utah was very disruptive on our scoring, I gotta believe our offense flows better vs the Zags.

 

[bleediteveryday30]

I was very impressed with that win! We had to win it ugly and it was fugly. Wow. But, a win is a win and we are still dancing! Now, we have a tough match up with Gonzaga who is playing at a high level right now. We will have to shoot lights out to beat them and play great D.

 

[The Right Blue]

Should also give props to Larry K and Utah, they are an unbelievable team. Their defense is stifling and when their 3's go down, they are incredibly tough to beat.

 

[HuffyJB]

Originally posted by Showenuff:
While we are all so concerned about scoring, we seem to all be overlooking the fact that our defense in this tourney is looking much better. Utah was very disruptive on our scoring, I gotta believe our offense flows better vs the Zags.

This three game stretch is arguably Duke's best defensive stretch given the circumstances.

 

[bleediteveryday30]

Originally posted by HuffyJB:

Originally posted by Showenuff:
While we are all so concerned about scoring, we seem to all be overlooking the fact that our defense in this tourney is looking much better. Utah was very disruptive on our scoring, I gotta believe our offense flows better vs the Zags.

This three game stretch is arguably Duke's best defensive stretch given the circumstances.

I agree. I think we have to continue playing our game and get better. I thought we played nervous and tight at times on offense. But, or D was magical tonight. I am looking for the offense to catch up Sunday night!

 

[OldasdirtDevil]

Originally posted by HuffyJB:

Originally posted by Showenuff:
While we are all so concerned about scoring, we seem to all be overlooking the fact that our defense in this tourney is looking much better. Utah was very disruptive on our scoring, I gotta believe our offense flows better vs the Zags.

This three game stretch is arguably Duke's best defensive stretch given the circumstances.

Our defense had improved tremendously. We were 44 (I think), this probably moves us up into the 30's. We don't win tonight without our defensive intensity.

OFC

 

[Showenuff]

Yep, how you LOOK in this tourney doesn't mean squat. Survive and advance baby. I'll take 3 more wins that look like crap.

 

[Showenuff]

We faced a much better defense tonight than we will Sunday. In fact rating wise , our D is ranked better than Gonzagas now, we are at 27 Zags at 30 ! Somebody has got to constantly harrass Wiltjer , Cooks gotta shoot and Oak is gonna be Great. Winslows confidence is soaring now.

 

[OldasdirtDevil]

Originally posted by Showenuff:
We faced a much better defense tonight than we will Sunday. In fact rating wise , our D is ranked better than Gonzagas now, we are at 27 Zags at 30 ! Somebody has got to constantly harrass Wiltjer , Cooks gotta shoot and Oak is gonna be Great. Winslows confidence is soaring now.

Yeah, I can't imagine any scenario where the Zags play defense as well as the Utes did tonight. I expect to see our offense running much smoother, and hopefully our guys get adjusted to shooting in the dome (even though Justise had no problem).

Oh, and it's amazing how much better our defense has become...27th that's pretty dang good considering it wasn't that long ago we were in the 60's.

OFC

 

[Alaskan_Assassin_21]

We have defeated 2-West Coast teams. But now is arguibly the big doggy of them all: Gonzaga

Defeat Gonzaga and we start talking Championship

 

[crazyduke3]

The defense is coming on at the perfect time for sure and now comes a huge test. Let's put these boys down.

 

[dukedevilz]

I like our matchup with Wiltjer vs. Winslow. I could see that being a huge area to exploit. BYU got the best of Gonzaga with a four-guard lineup as Wiltjer couldn't stay in front of the guys he was guarding. They took him out out for long periods of the game because of the matchup difficulty (23 minutes and no foul trouble), and a small BYU team ended up with more boards than one of the better rebounding teams in the country. Winslow is the key. Go to work, young fellow!

 

[GTHC_ GTH!]

CORRECTION: The refs on Duke's payroll are Elite. It has nothing to do with the Duke players or coaches.

 

[skysdad]

Duke's got more money than Forest Gump and Forest got more money than Davy Crockett. So Tar Heel fans the money is always going to be there and the refs are always going to get paid and there's not a thing any of you can do about it.

OFC

 

[Devilicious]

Interesting...